Gas gun for coupling different gas containers

ABSTRACT

A compressed gas gun device includes a housing having a gun barrel and a handle portion, a receptacle for receiving projectiles, and a coupling device coupled to the housing for coupling to various gas containers which may supply compressed gas into the housing and which includes a valve rod for opening the gas container. The coupling device includes a casing having a longitudinal bore for coupling between the housing and the gas container, and having an orifice to receive a valve stem. An actuating shank is disposed within the casing, and includes one end for engaging with the valve stem, and the other end for depressing the valve rod into the gas container to selectively open the gas container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a compressed gas gun device or a paint bullet gun, and more particularly to a compressed gas gun device having an improved coupling device for attaching or coupling different gas containers that have different configurations thereto.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical compressed gas guns comprise a gun body, a stock, a trigger, a bullet loading guide, and a sight rack, in which the bullet loading guide is secured onto the upper gun barrel, for supplying projectiles or paint or lacquer bullets into the gun barrel one at a time. Normally, a compressed air reservoir or gas container or gas bottle is coupled to the stock or handle portion of the gas gun, for supplying compressed air to force or to shoot the projectiles or bullets out of the gun barrel.

For example, U.S. Patent Publication Ser. No. US 2002/0104523 A1 to Juan discloses one of the typical compressed gas guns also comprising an upper gun barrel provided on top of a gun body, a bullet loading guide attached onto the gun barrel, for supplying projectiles or paint or lacquer bullets into the gun barrel one at a time, and a compressed air reservoir or gas container coupled to the handle portion of the gas gun, for supplying compressed air to force or to shoot the projectiles or paint or lacquer bullets out of the gun barrel.

However, various kinds of gas containers or gas bottles have been developed and include different couplers or mouths that may only be attached to the typical compressed gas guns having the corresponding predetermined couplers or valves, but may not be attached to the other compressed gas guns having different couplers or valves, such that the users have to purchase the particular compressed gas guns having the corresponding predetermined couplers or valves.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,950 to Juan discloses another typical compressed gas gun comprising an upper gun barrel provided on top of a gun body, and a bullet feeding device attached onto the gun barrel, for supplying projectiles or paint or lacquer bullets into the gun barrel, and a compressed air reservoir or gas container coupled to the handle portion of the gas gun, for supplying compressed air to force or to shoot the projectiles or paint or lacquer bullets out of the gun barrel.

In addition, a pressure-reducing valve is disposed or coupled between the gun barrel and the compressed air reservoir or gas container, for relieving the pressure built in the gun body, and for allowing the compressed air reservoir or gas container to be detached from the gun body when required.

However, similarly, only one kind of the typical gas containers or gas bottles may be attached to the typical compressed gas guns having the particular or predetermined couplers or valves, and the other gas containers or gas bottles may not be attached to the compressed gas guns having different couplers or valves.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional compressed gas guns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a compressed gas gun device including an improved coupling device for attaching or coupling different gas containers that have different configurations thereto.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a compressed gas gun device comprising a housing including a gun barrel provided in front thereof, and including a handle portion provided to bottom of the housing and having a trigger for operating the gas gun device, and including a receptacle disposed on the housing for receiving projectiles therein, a coupling device coupled to the housing, a first gas container including a mouth for coupling to the coupling device, and for supplying compressed gas into the housing, and for shooting the projectiles out of the gun barrel, and including a valve rod provided in the mouth thereof, for selectively opening the first gas container when the valve rod is depressed into the first gas container. The coupling device includes a casing having a first end for coupling to the housing, and having a second end for attaching to the first gas container, and having a longitudinal bore formed therein for coupling between the housing and the first gas container, the casing includes an orifice formed therein and communicating with the longitudinal bore thereof, and includes a valve seat provided therein. A valve device includes a valve stem received in the orifice of the casing, and having a valve member for selectively with the valve seat of the casing, to selectively enclose and open the orifice of the casing, and to allow the compressed gas to flow out and to be released from the orifice of the casing, and an actuating shank is disposed within the longitudinal bore of the casing, and includes a first end for engaging with the valve stem, and a second end extended toward the mouth of the first gas container, for selectively engaging and depressing the valve rod into the first gas container to selectively open the first gas container when the actuating shank is moved along the longitudinal bore of the casing and moved relative to the valve stem and the casing by the valve stem.

The casing includes a spring member disposed therein, and engaged between the actuating shank and the casing, for biasing the first end of the actuating shank to engage with the valve stem. The casing includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein, and communicating with the longitudinal bore thereof for engaging with the spring member.

The actuating shank includes a pathway formed therein, to allow the compressed gas to flow through the longitudinal bore of the casing. The actuating shank includes an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the longitudinal bore of the casing, to allow the compressed gas to flow through the longitudinal bore of the casing.

The valve stem includes an inclined surface formed therein, and located within the longitudinal bore of the casing, for engaging with the second end of the actuating shank, and for allowing the actuating shank to be moved along the longitudinal bore of the casing and to be moved relative to the valve stem and the casing by the inclined surface of the valve stem.

The valve stem includes a passage formed therein, for selectively communicating with the orifice of the casing, when the passage of the valve stem is offset from the valve seat of the casing. The valve stem includes a sealing ring attached on valve member thereof, for engaging or acting with the valve seat of the casing, to selectively enclose and open the orifice of the casing.

The valve stem includes an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the longitudinal bore of the casing, to allow the compressed gas to flow through the longitudinal bore of the casing, and to bypass the valve stem. A second gas container may further be provided and may include a mouth for selectively coupling to the coupling device, and the second gas container includes a control device attached to the mouth thereof, to open and to enclose and to control the second gas container.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan schematic view of a compressed gas gun device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the compressed gas gun device;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the compressed gas gun device;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the compressed gas gun device, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the compressed gas gun device;

FIG. 6 is another partial cross sectional views similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrating the attachment or coupling of the other different gas container to the compressed gas gun device; and

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional views similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the operation of the compressed gas gun device as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a compressed gas gun device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a gun body or housing 10, a gun barrel 11 formed or provided on top or in front of the housing 10, and a stock or handle portion 12 provided or attached to bottom of the housing 10, and having a trigger 13 for triggering or operating the gas gun device 1.

A magazine or receptacle 14 is further provided and disposed on top of the housing 10 with such as a detachable projectile feeding tube 15, for receiving paint or lacquer bullets or projectiles therein, and for supplying the projectiles or paint or lacquer bullets into the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11. The detachable projectile feeding tube 15 has been filed in the other co-pending patent applications, but not related to the present invention, and thus will not be described in further details.

The housing 10 includes a valve or coupling device 20 coupled to a hose 16 which is attached or coupled to the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11. The coupling device 20 in accordance with the present invention is arranged and provided for coupling to various kinds of compressed air reservoir or compressed air tank or gas bottles or gas containers 50, 51 (FIGS. 4-7), and for supplying compressed air or gas into the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11, in order to force or to shoot the projectiles or bullets out of the gun barrel 11.

The coupling device 20 includes a casing 21 having one end 22 directly attachable or coupled to the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11, or indirectly coupled to the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11 via the hose 16, and having an inner thread 23 formed in the other end 24 thereof, for threading or attaching or securing the mouths 52 of the gas containers 50, 51 thereto (FIGS. 4-7), and thus for supplying the compressed air or gas into the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11 via the coupling device 20. The casing 21 may be secured to the handle portion 12 of the housing 10 with one or more fasteners 18 (FIG. 3), for example.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the casing 21 includes a longitudinal bore 25 formed therein, and communicating or coupling between the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11 or the hose 16 and the gas containers 50, 51 thereto, for allowing the compressed air or gas to be supplied from the gas containers 50, 51 into the housing 10 or into the gun barrel 11 via the longitudinal bore 25 of the coupling device 20. The casing 21 further includes an inner peripheral shoulder 26 formed therein, and communicating with the longitudinal bore 25 thereof.

The casing 21 further includes an orifice 27 laterally formed therein, and intersecting or crossing or communicating with the longitudinal bore 25 thereof, for rotatably and slidably receiving a valve stem 30 of a valve device 3 therein, and further includes an inner thread 28 formed or provided in one end of the orifice 27 thereof and a valve seat 29 extended or provided in the other end of the orifice 27 thereof.

For example, the valve stem 30 includes an outer thread 31 formed or provided in one end thereof for threading with the inner thread 28 of the casing 21, for allowing the valve stem 30 to be threaded and thus rotated and moved relative to the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and includes a handgrip 32 formed or provided on the one end thereof for operating or rotating the valve stem 30 relative to the casing 21.

The valve stem 30 is laterally extended through the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21 and preferably includes an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, such that the valve stem 30 will not block the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, and such that the compressed air or gas may flow through the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21 and may bypass the valve stem 30.

However, it is preferable that the valve stem 30 includes a cut off portion or a narrowed or reduced neck portion or inclined surface 33 formed or provided therein, to form a valve member 34 in the other end thereof, and the cut off portion or neck portion or inclined surface 33 of the valve stem 30 is arranged to be located within the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, for allowing the compressed air or gas to easily flow through the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21 and to bypass the valve stem 30, without being blocked by the valve stem 30.

The valve member 34 of the valve stem 30 preferably includes one or more sealing rings 35 attached thereon, for engaging or acting with the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, and for either enclosing or blocking the orifice 27 of the casing 21 (FIGS. 5, 7), or opening the orifice 27 of the casing 21 (FIGS. 4, 6), for allowing the compressed air or gas in the longitudinal bore 25 and the orifice 27 of the casing 21 to flow out through or to be released via the orifice 27 of the casing 21, at this moment.

For example, the valve stem 30 may include a passage 36 formed therein, for selectively communicating with the orifice 27 of the casing 21, when the passage 36 and/or the sealing rings 35 of the valve stem 30 are offset from the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, for allowing the compressed air or gas to flow out of the orifice 27 of the casing 21 via the passage 36 of the valve stem 30. A retaining ring 37 may be attached to the valve stem 30, and engageable with the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, for limiting the valve stem 30 to slide or to move relative to the casing 21, and for preventing the valve stem 30 from being disengaged from the casing 21.

An actuating shank 40 may be optionally provided and disposed within the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, and preferably includes an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, for preventing the actuating shank 40 from blocking the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, and for allowing the compressed air or gas to flow through the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21 and to bypass the actuating shank 40.

However, it is preferable that the actuating shank 40 includes one or more cut off portions or pathways 41 formed or provided therein, and arranged to allow the compressed air or gas to easily flow through the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21. The actuating shank 40 includes one end or first end 42 for engaging with the valve stem 30, such as for engaging with the cut off portion or neck portion or inclined surface 33 of the valve stem 30, for allowing the actuating shank 40 to be moved along the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21 or to be moved relative to the valve stem 30 and the casing 21 by the valve stem 30.

A spring member 43 may be engaged between the actuating shank 40 and the inner peripheral shoulder 26 of the casing 21, for biasing and forcing the first end 42 of the actuating shank 40 to engage with the valve stem 30. The actuating shank 40 includes the other end or second end 44 extended toward the other end 24 of the casing 21 or toward the mouths 52 of the gas containers 50, 51, for engaging or acting with the gas containers 50, 51, which will be discussed hereinafter.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-5, one type or one kind of the gas containers 50 may include a conventional control ferrule or control device 53 attached to the mouth 52 thereof, to open or to close or to control the gas container 50. In operation, as shown in FIG. 5, the valve member 34 of the valve stem 30 may be moved to engage or act with the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, to enclose the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and to prevent the compressed air or gas from flowing out through or released via the orifice 27 of the casing 21.

At this moment, the control device 53 may open the gas container 50, to allow the compressed air or gas to flow from the gas container 50, through the longitudinal bore 25 of the casing 21, and then into the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11. After use, or when it is required to change the other gas container 50, the gas container 50 may be closed or locked by the control device 53, in order to prevent the compressed air or gas to further flow out of the gas container 50.

However, when the gas container 50 is closed or locked, the compressed air or gas filled or received within the longitudinal bore 25 and the orifice 27 of the casing 21 may also include a substantial pressure and is thus required to flow out through or to be released via the orifice 27 of the casing 21, before the gas container 50 may be disengaged and removed from the other end 24 of the casing 21. Otherwise, the pressure of the compressed air or gas may blow or blast the gas container 50 away from the casing 21 when the gas container 50 is unthreaded relative to the casing 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this situation or condition, the valve stem 30 may be threaded or rotated and moved relative to the casing 21, to disengage the valve member 34 of the valve stem 30 from the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, and/or to open the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and thus to allow the compressed air or gas in the longitudinal bore 25 and the orifice 27 of the casing 21 to flow out through or to be released via the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and thus for allowing the gas container 50 to be removed and to be changed to the other gas containers 50, 51.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrated is a different or another type or kind of the gas container 51 also having the mouth 52 attached or threaded to the other end 24 of the casing 21, for selectively supplying the compressed air or gas into the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11 via the coupling device 20. The type of the conventional gas container 51 includes a probe or needle or valve rod 54 provided and extended within the mouths 52 thereof, for opening the gas container 51 in a conventional way when the valve rod 54 is depressed into the gas container 51.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 7, the valve member 34 of the valve stem 30 may also be moved or caused to engage or act with the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, to enclose the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and to prevent the compressed air or gas from flowing out through or released via the orifice 27 of the casing 21. At this moment, or when the valve member 34 is engage or act with the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, the other end or second end 44 of the actuating shank 40 may be actuated or forced by the valve stem 30 to depress and to force and to move the valve rod 54 into the gas container 51, in order to open the gas container 51, and thus to allow the compressed air or gas to be supplied from the gas container 51 into the housing 10 or the gun barrel 11 via the coupling device 20.

After use, or when it is required to change to the other gas containers 50, 51, the actuating shank 40 may be caused to engage with the inclined surface 33 of the valve stem 30 by threading or rotating and moving the valve stem 30 relative to the casing 21, and to disengage the other end or second end 44 of the actuating shank 40 from the valve rod 54 of the gas container 51, in order to close the gas container 51, and thus to prevent the compressed air or gas to further flow out of the gas container 51.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this situation or condition, the valve stem 30 may be threaded or rotated and moved relative to the casing 21, to disengage the valve member 34 of the valve stem 30 from the valve seat 29 of the casing 21, and/or to open the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and thus to allow the compressed air or gas in the longitudinal bore 25 and the orifice 27 of the casing 21 to flow out through or to be released via the orifice 27 of the casing 21, and thus for allowing the gas container 51 to be removed and to be changed to the other gas containers 50, 51.

It is to be noted that the valve device 3 may thus be formed or acted as a relief valve device 3, for selectively releasing the compressed air or gas received within the longitudinal bore 25 and the orifice 27 of the casing 21, via the orifice 27 of the casing 21, when the gas containers 50, 51 have been enclosed, and thus for preventing the gas containers 50, 51 from being blown or blasted away from the casing 21 when the gas containers 50, 51 are unthreaded relative to the casing 21.

Accordingly, the compressed gas gun device in accordance with the present invention includes an improved coupling device for attaching or coupling different gas containers that have different configurations thereto.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A compressed gas gun device comprising: a housing including a gun barrel provided in front thereof, and including a handle portion provided to bottom of said housing and having a trigger for operating said gas gun device, and including a receptacle disposed on said housing for receiving projectiles therein, a coupling device coupled to said housing, a first gas container including a mouth for coupling to said coupling device, and for supplying compressed gas into said housing, and for shooting the projectiles out of said gun barrel, and including a valve rod provided in said mouth thereof, for selectively opening said first gas container when said valve rod is depressed into said first gas container, said coupling device including a casing having a first end for coupling to said housing, and having a second end for attaching to said first gas container, and having a longitudinal bore formed therein for coupling between said housing and said first gas container, said casing including an orifice formed therein and communicating with said longitudinal bore thereof, and including a valve seat provided therein, a valve device including a valve stem received in said orifice of said casing, and having a valve member for selectively with said valve seat of said casing, to selectively enclose and open said orifice of said casing, and to allow the compressed gas to flow out and to be released from said orifice of said casing, and an actuating shank disposed within said longitudinal bore of said casing, and including a first end for engaging with said valve stem, and a second end extended toward said mouth of said first gas container, for selectively engaging and depressing said valve rod into said first gas container to selectively open said first gas container when said actuating shank is moved along said longitudinal bore of said casing and moved relative to said valve stem and said casing by said valve stem.
 2. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes a spring member disposed therein, and engaged between said actuating shank and said casing, for biasing and forcing said first end of said actuating shank to engage with said valve stem.
 3. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said casing includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein, and communicating with said longitudinal bore thereof for engaging with said spring member.
 4. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating shank includes a pathway formed therein, to allow the compressed gas to flow through said longitudinal bore of said casing.
 5. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating shank includes an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said longitudinal bore of said casing, to allow the compressed gas to flow through said longitudinal bore of said casing.
 6. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve stem includes an inclined surface formed therein, and located within said longitudinal bore of said casing, for engaging with said second end of said actuating shank, and for allowing said actuating shank to be moved along said longitudinal bore of said casing and to be moved relative to said valve stem and said casing by said inclined surface of said valve stem.
 7. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve stem includes a passage formed therein, for selectively communicating with said orifice of said casing, when said passage of said valve stem is offset from said valve seat of said casing.
 8. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve stem includes a sealing ring attached on valve member thereof, for engaging or acting with said valve seat of said casing, to selectively enclose and block and open said orifice of said casing.
 9. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve stem includes an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said longitudinal bore of said casing, to allow the compressed gas to flow through said longitudinal bore of said casing, and to bypass said valve stem.
 10. The compressed gas gun device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second gas container having a mouth for selectively coupling to said coupling device, and said second gas container including a control device attached to said mouth thereof, to open and to enclose and to control said second gas container. 